SimplyAbuDhabi XII

1 2 3 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I S lyde watches seem to have created a new category for themselves – that of the luxury digital watch. We are engaged with electronic devices all day long, and Slyde have no compunctions about enveloping the world of luxurious wristwatches into the mix. It’s a bold stance in a world where the mechanical watch is king, but the courageous digital direction they have taken is gaining traction, with a steady circle of fans building all over the world. The first watch was sold two years ago and form their base in the village of Luins in the Canton of Vaud, Switzerland, the workforce of over 20 people help to supply some 150 points of sale worldwide. Slyde timepieces draw on a whole range of groundbreaking technologies and merge them into the world of 21st century luxury watchmaking. They incorporate the craftsmanship and accuracy of high-end watchmaking, the technology of an Internet platform and the aura of prestige. The result? A high-tech, touchscreen watch with a graphic engine and a navigation system. Plus, with a host of display combinations, owners can generate an endless variety of movements on their wrist. Slyde is the brainchild of renowned designer Jorg Hysek, the world- renowned designer who is widely known for his eponymous Hysek brand that launched in 1997. HI is also acclaimed for his design work on watches such as Vacheron Constantin’s ‘222’, theMarine collection from Breguet and Kirium by TAG Heuer. He works alongside Fabrice Gonet, another fellow anti-conformist who draws inspiration from science fiction and is a disciple of technology, allowing for an ingenious mix of watchmaking engineering and electronics. Their combined creative energy is formidable and they seek to push boundaries, overcome obstacles and take on the challenges. Together they merge the roots of Haute Horlogerie and the contemporary nature of the sporting world. With the Slyde Sport, design and performance compliment to make an intriguing and futuristic watch. Worldwide editions are limited to 500 pieces per colour and are available in three unique versions: yellow, red and white. The timepiece has a scrolling time display, which is inspired by athletics and reflects the rules and spirit of sport. The numbers represent the limits, while the track field and its lanes are mapped out with lines. The animation sets the dynamics: position, movement and speed. Whatever the sport, it implies a challenge, a time-related performance. This is embodied in a classic stopwatch with start/stop functions. The central display screen, a vital component in the sporting community, is inspired by stadium LED display screens where time, scores and various messages or advertisements can be displayed in turn. This gives life to the mechanism. When creating this timepiece and its mechanism, its designers did not have a particular sport in mind. The idea was to capture the very essence of Sport: “stronger, higher, faster” as said P. de Coubertin. Each athlete practices their sport, living out their passion by training and undertaking individual or team games, upholding the competitive spirit. Whatever the sport, the most important thing is what motivates the athlete. Jorg Hysek has previously declared that, “A good designer must always be ahead of his time”. With these intriguing Slyde creations, however they divide people, he is certainly looking firmly forward.